Meeting with Jindal part of backchannel diplomacy, govt tells Army

[Saifullah Sani]

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had taken COAS Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa into confidence on his recent meeting with Indian business tycoon Sajjan Jindal, BBC Urdu reported.

The civil leadership informed the military authorities that the PM’s meeting with an Indian business tycoon, who is known for being close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was a part of backchannel diplomacy. Also, the businessman had the backing of some important Indian officials for his meeting with the prime minister to defuse ongoing tension between the two neighbouring countries.

On the other hand, the military leadership also took its officials into confidence on the prime minister’s meeting with the Indian businessman. The COAS told his officers that the meeting was a part of backchannel diplomacy.

The report quoting a PML-N leader said that the prime minister was tight-lipped on his meeting with Sajjan Jindal. However, the only detail of the meeting he shared with his aides was that Jindal was making efforts to defuse tension between India and Pakistan.

In April, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had a meeting with Indian business tycoon Sajjan Jindal at the hill resort town of Murree.

The meeting triggered intense speculations with several politicians and analysts suggesting it could be the precursor to a possible meeting between the Pakistani and Indian premiers in the near future.

PTI had moved a resolution in the Punjab Assembly expressing grave concern over the prime minister’s 'secret' meeting with Indian steel magnate Jindal.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/2...part-of-backchannel-diplomacy-govt-tells-army
http://www.bbc.com/urdu/pakistan-39880266

 

[H!TchHiker]

KARACHI: The civilian leadership of the country has informed senior military officials that a recent meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Indian steel magnate Sajjan Jindal — a close friend of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi — was part of backchannel diplomacy between the governments of Pakistan and India, BBC Urdu said in a report on Thursday.

Away from the media glare, the meeting between Mr Sharif and Mr Jindal — who visited the country with his family members and some friends — was held at the former’s private residence in Murree last month. The meeting fuelled wild speculations after the media broke the news, prompting Maryam Nawaz to tweet that “Mr Jindal is an old friend of the prime minister. Nothing ‘secret’ about the meeting and [it] should not be blown out of proportion”.

The Foreign Office spokesman had claimed his office was unaware about any such meeting.

Quoting important official sources, the BBC Urdu report said that during a recent meeting the prime minister took Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa into confidence about his meeting with Mr Jindal.

Sharif takes army chief into confidence over his meeting with Indian steel magnate
According to these sources, Mr Sharif told the military leadership that Mr Jindal had been sent by Indian authorities and that the meeting was an initiative to reduce tension between the two countries.

The report said the military leadership had also taken its senior officers into confidence about the prime minister’s meeting with Mr Jindal. It said that Gen Bajwa had informed army’s senior officers that the meeting was part of backchannel diplomacy between the two countries.

The Sharif-Jindal meeting was held at a time when relations between Pakistan and India were very strained due to a series of ceasefire violations along the Line of Control.

It had triggered intense speculation with some analysts suggesting it could be the precursor to a possible meeting between prime ministers of the two countries in the near future.

According to the report, a close aide of Mr Sharif told the BBC Urdu that the prime minister did not share with his party members the details of his meeting with Mr Jindal. The prime minister just informed them that the Indian steel magnate was making effort for reducing tension between the two countries and that he had taken the military leadership into confidence about his meeting with him.

The report said the military leadership made it clear that the issue of convicted Indian spy, Kulbhushan Jadhav, could not be discussed during any backchannel or diplomatic talks with India.

There was no official comment by the government to confirm or deny the BBC report.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1332606/jindal-visit-termed-part-of-backchannel-diplomacy

 

[JOEY TRIBIANI]

Did coas knows about it ?

 

[H!TchHiker]

Did coas knows about it ?

According to these sources, Mr Sharif told the military leadership that Mr Jindal had been sent by Indian authorities and that the meeting was an initiative to reduce tension between the two countries.

The report said the military leadership had also taken its senior officers into confidence about the prime minister’s meeting with Mr Jindal. It said that Gen Bajwa had informed army’s senior officers that the meeting was part of backchannel diplomacy between the two countries.
COAS was the one who supported NZ in dharna...He got his reward and now he is paying back..He knows ...
Remember he changed whole team of RS, not liked by NZ and put NZ relative as DG ISI..
Further as per Constitution PM is not liable to inform COAS..Since DG ISPR vows to work as per the constitution they should follow it now.
He is the final authority as DG ISPR said,now what they are complaining about

 

[graphican]

#HIT news... no one is believing this #hit from a person who lies in the National Assembly!

And what are we negotiating through back channel diplomacy?

• Resolution of Kashmir? NO
• Water dispute between India and Pakistan? NO
• Elimination of Indian Terrorism through Afghanistan and Iran? NO
• Let's free Kulbhushan? Probably
• Let's give Indians a trade route through Pakistan? Probably

God d@mn this back channel diplomacy then which is propagating Indian interests only. What is there for Pakistan to gain? Peace with India on who's terms? India would want peace - sure thing if Pakistan gives up everything India asks. Would it not be a sweet deal?

 

[H!TchHiker]

#HIT news... no one is believing this #hit from a person who lies in the National Assembly!

Move on guys.. let Mian Moran Shareef feel music of his deeds... and have no sympathy when he suffers.

What type of music he is facing ?

 

[El Sidd]

What type of music he is facing ?

I think Kadi ao na Rasila type of music

 

[JOEY TRIBIANI]

What type of music he is facing ?

Military band ( securing his corrupt family ).

 

[graphican]

What type of music he is facing ?

He will be squeezed in Panama Leaks. Wait and see

Dr. Shahid on Sajjan Jandal and BBC's report about "back channel diplomacy". Its a fair question;

• How is that a back-channel diplomacy when it is up and front with Prime Minister of Pakistan directly?
• Back channel diplomacy happen between indirect government representatives, not with PM's straight.

 

[H!TchHiker]

He will be squeezed in Panama Leaks. Wait and see

Dr. Shahid on Sajjan Jandal and BBC's report about "back channel diplomacy". Its a fair question;

• How is that a back-channel diplomacy when it is up and front with Prime Minister of Pakistan directly?

Hahah like he got squeezed in Dawn leaks...Why do judiciary makes him Syaase shaheed when Army used the same logic ..
By the way in JIT there are 2 personnel from MI and ISI same who give clean chit to maryam in Dawn leaks..How could they against NZ ...DG ISI is relative of Sharif..
Regarding meeting with jANDAL now it is open Bajwa has no concern and took senior military commanders in confidence..
Like he got squeezed in Model town JIT..
Further as per Constitution he is not liable to inform COAS even...COAS is reportable to him not otherwise..COAS has to follow constitution and democracy..

Military band ( securing his corrupt family ).

Kiyani Install him and Bajwa is ensuring the rule of Sharif on Pakistan...You will see in next election how he will once again show his loyalty to Sharifs like he did in Dharna..

 

[Vertiti Scrutator]

If Pakistanis are still oblivious of the game that's unfolding, then my sympathies!!
one has to be completely numb to timelines and reality to not see what actually is happening!! Its quite obvious that the Pakistani army wants to throw a spanner in the India-Pakistan relationship (by threatening to hang an innocent Indian national); Nawaz Sharif's annoyance is too loud by his 'complete silence' on the issue (ever since the issue was brought up). Sajjan Jindal obviously got the buy-in from Nawaz Sharif (in his recent visit) that taking the issue to ICJ would give Nawaz good stick to beat up the army and not appear that he was acquiescing to the Indian demands!!!

One has to remember that Pakistan assassinated its own Madr-e-Millat (Mother of the nation) Fatima Jinnah accusing her of being an Indian spy. So how can anyone believe anything that Pakistan says.....and the truth is no one in the world believes Pakistan - not even their arab cousins!!!

 

[GlobalVillageSpace]

Nawaz-Jindal meeting: Friendship, diplomacy, or something else?
Global Village Space |

The civilian leadership took the military high command in confidence regarding the recent visit of Indian Steel magnate, Sajjan Jindal. The military leadership was to tell that his meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Murree last month was part of back-channel diplomacy aimed at diffusing tensions between the two countries.

Jindal had been very vocal against the Pakistani military, labeling it as a disruptive force and sponsor of terrorism. Maryam’s tweet was matched by those of Jindal and understandably there was anger.

The meeting, which took place in a hill station in a surreptitious manner, raised a lot of speculations. An uproar was created when Maryam Nawaz Sharif tweeted that Jindal was a friend of the prime minister.

“Mr. Jindal is an old friend of the prime minister. Nothing ‘secret’ about the meeting and [it] should not be blown out of proportion”, she tweeted.

✔@MaryamNSharif
Mr. Jindal is an old friend of the Prime Minister. Nothing 'secret' about the meeting & should not be blown out of proportion. Thank you.
7:08 PM - 27 Apr 2017

Further suspicion was raised when the Foreign Office Spokesman said that his office was unaware of such a meeting.

Read more: Jindal’s visit: Modi’s support package to Nawaz?

There were rumors abound that the Nawaz-Jindal meeting may have secretly settled the Jadhav issue in favor of India.

With the prime minister being under immense pressure over Panama and Dawn Leaks scandals and India upping the anti-Pakistan drive, the meeting and its purpose were doubted. Jindal had been very vocal against the Pakistani military, labeling it as a disruptive force and sponsor of terrorism. Maryam’s tweet was matched by those of Jindal and understandably there was anger.

✔@sajjanjindal59
Very unfortunate that whenever India & Pakistan start a dialogue, agencies in Pakistan create terror to remain relevant #PathankotAttack
11:55 AM - 6 Jan 2016

A clarification was merited and so it reportedly came. According to sources, Mr. Sharif told the military leadership that Mr. Jindal had been sent by Indian authorities and that the meeting was an initiative to reduce tension between the two countries.

The report in BBC World Urdu further mentioned that COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa conveyed the officer cadre of the army about it being a back channel diplomatic effort. However, the report added that the military top brass clearly stated that the issue of the Indian spy, Kulbushan Jadhav, cannot be discussed through veiled means.

There were rumors abound that the Nawaz-Jindal meeting may have secretly settled the Jadhav issue in favor of India.

Responding to media reporters, Federal Minister for Information Maryam Aurangzeb quashed this story and said that Jindal was not discussed in the meeting with the military leadership.

“There was no mention of Sajjan Jindal in meeting between the Prime Minister and the COAS. Jindal is a friend of the prime minister and met him in his personal capacity. The news item that made rounds yesterday is incorrect”, she said.

Is Backchannel Diplomacy possible amid the current scenario?
The news item and the quick rebuttal has raised more doubts about the meeting. Given the simmering tensions between the two arch nemesis, which is not only visible in rhetoric but also physical engagements along the Line of Control (LoC), there are fewer buyers of this story.

Questions are raised on how could a strongly anti-Pakistan person be trusted to resolve issues between the two countries.

Read full article:
Nawaz-Jindal meeting: Friendship, diplomacy, or something else?

 

[Hassan Guy]

oh, i thought it was bobby jindal.

 

[NakedLunch]

Jindal had been very vocal against the Pakistani military, labeling it as a disruptive force and sponsor of terrorism.

So why does Nawaz Shareef consider this Hershey squirt a friend? Strange.

 

[graphican]

Hahah like he got squeezed in Dawn leaks...Why do judiciary makes him Syaase shaheed when Army used the same logic ..
By the way in JIT there are 2 personnel from MI and ISI same who give clean chit to maryam in Dawn leaks..How could they against NZ ...DG ISI is relative of Sharif..
Regarding meeting with jANDAL now it is open Bajwa has no concern and took senior military commanders in confidence..
Like he got squeezed in Model town JIT..
Further as per Constitution he is not liable to inform COAS even...COAS is reportable to him not otherwise..COAS has to follow constitution and democracy..


Kiyani Install him and Bajwa is ensuring the rule of Sharif on Pakistan...You will see in next election how he will once again show his loyalty to Sharifs like he did in Dharna..

So you want to say Nawaz is criminal but he will not be punished because he didn't got punished in Dawn Leaks?

Panama Leaks is a criminal investigation and Judiciary thus far is conscious about its deteriorating image after initial soft verdict against Nawaz. I am pretty sure if Pakistan has to survive, Nawaz (and corrupts likes of Nawaz) will be politically removed and we only have Panama Leaks which can do it now. Time for Dawn Leaks has came and gone.